Large Boeing 737 MAX customers signal caution on orders amid Covid-19
DUBLIN/CHICAGO (Reuters) – A day after Boeing Co received approval for its 737 MAX to fly again following a 20-month grounding, its two largest U.S. and European customers signaled caution on their order books as they monitor demand in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. based Southwest Airlines , Boeing’s largest customer worldwide, said this week it would just take new MAX jets to replace jets it’s retiring rather than grow its fleet, and on Thursday raised the prospect of scaling back its fleet due to the pandemic.
“If demand is going to be persistently depressed, we can retire and not need to take airplanes as replacements,” Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly told journalists.
